Altar
Located in Sangay National Park, Mt. Altar, (or Capac-Urcu which means “majestic mountain” in Quichua), offers visitors the most beautiful and unique scenery of all the Ecuadorian Andes. The long glacial valleys covered with abundant flora typical of the Paramo, gives us access to our base camp located on the plains of Collanes. Altar is believed to have been higher than the highest mountain of Ecuador (Chimborazo 6,310m.) before the massive explosion that took the top off and opened the crater towards the west. From our base camp we will hike for a few hours and reach the heart of the mountain, literally in the old crater. Here we will see an incredible volcanic amphitheater formed by vertical rock walls and hanging glaciers from which occasionally drop huge pieces of ice into the lake located at the center of the mountain. This lake is known as Laguna Amarilla which means Yellow Lake in Spanish because of the color of the minerals in it. Back at our camp, on the plains of Collanes, we are often blessed by the spectacular flight of an Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus). We return on the same trail by which we enter the mountain, and hike down to the Hacienda Canderalia. We then travel by car to the town of Baños or Riobamba.
Ecuador’s volcanoes allow you to experience high altitude climbing in a relatively safe and accessible manner. We have over 25 years of experience in mountaineering all over the western hemisphere. Our guides have climbed all the high mountains in Ecuador and some in Peru, Chile, Mexico, USA and Canada. We believe that in dealing with any aspect of mountaineering, one must have knowledge, respect and security in order to share a safe and rich experience with our clients. Acclimatization is a very important part of our high altitude ascents. Finally, we believe that mountaineering is not an activity of conquest or confrontation, but rather a part of a very profound relationship with nature. Temperature, snow conditions, wind, etc. are signs which the mountains give us. Let us always respect this form of communication and listen. We invite you to experience these mountains in a different way. Following is a description of the 2 most famous and requested mountains however upon request, we can arrange trips to any mountains in South America.
